Cowboys replenish defense with Ekuban, Nguyen picks

Published: Sunday, April 18, 1999

IRVING (AP) For the fourth time in six years, the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday made a defensive end their first pick in the NFL draft.

The Cowboys moved up from the 22nd spot to the 20th position in a trade with Seattle to take Ebenezer Ekuban, who is from North Carolina like last year's first round pick, Greg Ellis. Dallas gave up a fifth round pick.

Dallas needed defensive line help because of the uncertainty surrounding tackle Leon Lett. NFL sources say Lett has failed a drug test for the third time.

Dallas looked for more defensive help in the third round by taking linebacker Dat Nguyen, the Lombardi Award winner from Texas A&M. Nguyen, who set an A&M record for tackles, is undersized at 5-foot-11 and 234 pounds, but the Cowboys believe the All-American can help on special teams and perhaps develop into another Zach Thomas, who became a star at Miami despite his small size.

The Cowboys also helped their defense by signing former Indianapolis Colt and Texas A&M linebacker Quentin Coryatt to a three-year contract on Saturday. He missed last year because of shoulder problems.

Dallas also extended the contract of veteran fullback Daryl Johnston, who took a pay cut so he could fit into the Cowboys' salary-cap structure.

The 6-foot-3, 281-pound Ekuban played tight end his first two years at North Carolina but was moved to defensive end, where he used his 4.63 speed to become one of the fastest pass rushers in the country. He had seven sacks for the Tar Heels last year.

''I think my greatest asset is my speed,'' Ekuban said. ''I think the Cowboys got me for my speed off the corner. I still have a lot to learn but I believe I can bring some heat. ''

Ekuban said he learned a lot from Ellis, who paced the Dallas defensive linemen with 63 tackles last year.

''He helped me a lot at Carolina,'' said Ekuban, a native of Ghana. ''Maybe we can meet at the quarterback like we did in college.''